The rationale for this joint honours degree programme in the heart of London is that key elements of the War Studies curriculum can be augmented and reinforced by studying history as war touches every aspect of human existence.
KEY BENEFITS
War Studies:
• The leading department in the UK and one of very few in the world devoted exclusively to the multidisciplinary study of war as a phenomenon, providing a forum in which students can study all aspects of the impact of war on society.
• Students are taught by leading experts who bring with them not only a wealth of knowledge and ideas but an extensive and continually growing network of links with influential external organisations.
• The department hosts a number of lectures throughout the year featuring high-profile guest speakers.
• Central location gives easy access to major libraries and links to the seat of government, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
• Graduates pursue careers in a range of fields including government, academia, journalism, banking, policy development, and humanitarian organisations.
History:
• One of the best history departments in the world, ranked 2nd in the UK byThe Sunday Times newspaper (2011).
• Excellent graduate prospects, amongst the top five in the country (Times Good University Guide, 2010).
• Graduates get top jobs in a wide range of sectors, including law, business, government, heritage, finance and teaching.
• A wider range of periods and places than most history degrees, from medieval Europe to modern India.
• Students are taught in a friendly and supportive environment by expert historians.
• The central London location offers students easy access to world-class museums, collections and libraries.
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UCAS code
LV91
Programme type
Joint honours
Duration
Three years
Location
Strand Campus
Year of entry 2014
Offered by
School of Social Science and Public Policy
Department of History
Department of War Studies
Closing date
Please refer to the
UCAS website for application deadline dates, or contact the relevant Admissions Office for further advice
Fees & funding
For information on fees and funding for undergraduate programmes at King's go to
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ug/funding/ CONTACTS
Address
Department of War Studies
King's College London
Strand Campus
Strand
London WC2R 2LS
Email
Tel
020 7848 1403
Fax
020 7848 7200
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The underlying rationale for each joint honours programme is that the key elements of the War Studies curriculum (and the modules which reflect them) can be augmented and reinforced by the study of other subject areas and disciplines, given the way in which war touches every aspect of human existence.
A joint honours degree is comprised of a total 360 credits studied over three years. Usually students complete half of their modules in the Department of War Studies and half in the Department of History. Students take modules worth 120 credits each year, usually they choose War Studies modules worth 60 credits, and modules worth 60 credits from the History department.
Joint honours students must choose their modules for each year with the guidance of their personal tutor, taking into account timetabling factors for each department (eg avoiding clashes in timetables) and the requirements of each programme.
In War Studies, it is compulsory to take the modules in 'The Art of War Studies' and 'Contemporary Security Issues' in year one. Although there are no compulsory modules in Year 2, all joint honours students are required to ensure that at least one of their two optional module choices for the year is either Intelligence in War Studies or War in International Order or World War II in Europe. The final year dissertation is compulsory, but may be written with either department.
The War Studies elements provide students with a sophisticated understanding of war, both as a subject worthy of study and as an intellectual preparation for the widest possible range of career choices. These skills include the ability to handle a wide range of evidence, analyse complex issues and present conclusions in a clear and effective manner.
The History element of the degree develops critical thinking and independence of thought about the past. In the first year students take a core module in historical sources, skills and approaches and choose one optional module, either in Medieval, Early Modern or Modern History. In the second and third years, students select from a wide range of modules which reflect the research interests of the department, from medieval Europe to modern India.
ABOUT THE Department of History
CAREERS
The career prospects for King's history graduates are excellent, and our location in the heart of London provides outstanding access to leading employers in many fields. Students develop skills which give them a critical edge in the job market, in particular the ability to process information quickly, think independently and present their ideas in pressure situations. Former King's history students work for national newspapers, in top law firms, in the civil service, in state and private schools, in heritage, banking and business sectors and in many different universities across the globe. Noted King's history graduates include Ronan Bennett (novelist and screenwriter), Janice Hadlow (Controller of BBC Two) and Georgina Henry (Executive comment editor of the Guardian newspaper).
Recent graduates have found employment as…
• Academic Historian
• Dealers’ Assistant, Bonhams
• Research Analyst, Ministry of Defence
• Junior Accounts Executive, Chelgate
• Project Assistant, Heron Evidence Development
• Trusts & Statutory Fundraiser, Crisis UK
• Support Worker, Sense
• Departmental Runner, BBC
TEACHING STYLE
You will have regular and varied contact with staff and other students in lectures, seminars and supervisions. Most teaching takes place in seminars, which usually have between 10 and 20 participants and are a forum for discussion in which students have the opportunity to hone their discussion and presentation skills. Our first-year introductory module is taught in small supervision groups of 5 or 6 students, allowing for close discussion of historical texts and sources, and detailed feedback on your written work. If you choose to write a independent piece of historical research in your final year, which can be on any topic, this will also be taught on a one-to-one basis with a tutor. From the beginning of the degree, you will analyse primary sources as well as the writings of historians. We ensure undergraduate students are exposed to many different approaches to history, and encourage you to adopt a comparative approach, looking at the connections and contrasts between different periods and places throughout the degree. The discipline of research and writing is essential to the development of the skills of the historian. At King's, therefore, we require an extensive amount of written work and independent study.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
The King’s History degree lasts three years and is assessed through a combination of essays, examinations, presentations and dissertations. Students choose from a wide range of modules, which cover historical topics from Medieval times (c400AD onwards) through to the present day. Optional modules in Ancient History are also available through the Department of Classics. In the first year, students choose modules that span Medieval, Early Modern and Modern History as well as taking ‘Historical Skills, Sources & Approaches’, which is taught in small groups.
In the second and third years, students select more focused options, choosing from around 30 topics, which have recently included:
• Alexander the Great
• British Imperial Policy & Decolonisation, 1938-1964
• Caribbean Intellectual History, c1800 to the present
• The French Civil War, 1934-1970
• The History of Australia since 1788
• History of Political Ideas
• The Norman Conquest
• The Northern Ireland Troubles
• The Origins of Reformation in England
• Political Bonds in Late Medieval and Renaissance Italy
• The Soviet Union and Russia, 1945-2000
• Women and Gender in Early Modern England
• Romans & Barbarians: The Transformation of the Roman West
• Themes in the study of Contemporary Africa.
All our modules are designed by the lecturers in the department and reflect their own scholarly research specialisms.
In the final year, students have the opportunity to undertake a research dissertation on a topic of their choice, working under the one-to-one supervision of a member of staff who is a specialist in the field. As King’s is part of the University of London, second-and final-year students have the option of taking history courses at other institutions (such as UCL, and Royal Holloway), which means our students have an unrivalled choice of modules to choose from. The King’s History programme is unique in its pair of compulsory second-year ‘History and Memory’ modules, where students consider the role of history in the present day, from its social and public uses to the conflicts and controversies it can generate and do so by using London as a real, living source. Field trip teaching on these modules is delivered through downloadable podcasts. Examples of podcasts can be downloaded from our website http://www.kcl.ac.uk/history/podcasts
LOCATION
The Department of History at King’s is centrally located on our Strand campus, and is within walking distance of the capital’s famous landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the River Thames and the South Bank. London offers unparalleled historical resources, including the British Museum, British Library, Imperial War Museum and National Gallery.
SPECIAL NOTES
All students are offered the opportunity to study abroad as part of their History degree at King's and recent popular destinations include The University of North Carolina Chapel, The University of Auckland and The University of Hong Kong.
ABOUT THE Department of War Studies
CAREERS
War studies students come from a variety of countries and backgrounds and go on to work in a range of fields including government (most commonly in Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs in the UK and abroad), academia, journalism, banking (often in emerging markets or risk analysis), research and policy think-tanks, humanitarian organisations and international organisations. Recent graduates have found employment as: • Account Executive, IT re-seller • Accounts Assistance, IJS Global • Army Officer, British Army • Consultant, Ernst & Young • Creative Writer, Groupon • Defence Analyst, Vision Gain • Parliamentary Assistant, House of Commons • Special Constable, Metropolitan Police • Trainee Accountant, a legal practice
For more information about career prospects and employability please see:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/employability.aspxTEACHING STYLE
Most of the department's academic staff play a full part in teaching at BA, MA and research level to ensure the maximum cross-fertilisation between teaching and research. A range of teaching methods are used including lectures, seminars and tutorials. The programmes in the Department of War studies are designed to enhance your analytical, conceptual, research and critical thinking skills which will increase your employability and aid professional career development.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMMES & ASSESSMENT
The department offers single and joint honours programmes. The assessment method is a combination of essays, examinations, oral presentations and a dissertation.
LOCATION
The prime, central position beside the River Thames brings outstanding advantages, and as a student you will enjoy the excellent social and cultural opportunities of the capital. The department is close to the seat of government, the City, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
We review core and option modules on a regular basis, in order to continue to offer innovative and exciting programmes and this list is therefore subject to change. Please check here for updates, or contact the Department of War Studies and/or the History Department for further advice. Currently, students study the following core modules and choose from a list of options.
Please note that not all option modules are available each year. All War Studies modules are worth 30 credits unless mentioned otherwise.
YEAR 1
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department, and modules worth 60 credits from the History Department.
YEAR 1 CORE
War Studies Compulsory Core Modules:
- Contemporary Security Issues (15 credits)
- The Art of War Studies (15 credits)
History Compulsory Core Module:
- Historical Skills, Sources and Approaches
YEAR 1 OPTIONS
War Studies:
- The Causes of War
- The Conduct of War
- The Experience of War
History Options:
You will take one option from the following list:
- The Making of Britain 400-1400
- Medieval Europe 400-1500
- Early Modern Britain 1500-1750
- Power, Belief and Culture in Europe 1500-1800
- The Worlds of the British Empire, c1730-1960
- Europe from 1793 to 1991
- Politics and Society in Britain, 1780-1945
First year History module descriptions can be found here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/history/modules/level4/index.aspx
YEAR 2
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department, and modules worth 60 credits from the History Department.
YEAR 2 CORE
Although there are no core War Studies modules, students should ensure that they meet the requirement below (see Year 2 options)
No core History module.
YEAR 2 OPTIONS
War Studies:
All joint honours students choose two modules from the seven options in War Studies; at least one of which should be either Intelligence in War Studies or War in International Order or World War II in Europe.
The 2012-13 options in War Studies are:
- War & Global Conflict in the Contemporary World
- Military Strategy
- Intelligence in War Studies
- War & Society
- War in International Order
- Aspects of Naval History
- World War II in Europe
History:
Choice from all level 5 optional modules in the History department, which would typically include the following:
- British Economic History from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century
- Church, State and Nation in Britain, 1750-1939
- Crime and the Law 1500-1750
- Europe in the Age of Revolution and Napoleon
- European Jewry & the Transition to Modernity, 1650 - 1850
- Faith, Nation and Empire in Modern East-Central Europe (1800-present)
- From Crowd to Court: Cultures of Politics in Later Hanoverian Britain
- The French Civil War, 1934-1970
- Friends. Political Bonds in Late Medieval and Renaissance Italy (1300-1550)
- Greek History down to 322BC
- History and Memory
- The History of Australia since 1788
- History of Political Ideas
- History of the Iberian World, 1492-1822
- History of the Roman Empire
- The Nobility & Gentry of Medieval England, 1150-1500
- The Northern Ireland Troubles
- Religion & Society in Southern Europe
- Roman History down to 31BC
- The Soviet Union and Russia, 1945-2000
- Themes in Early Modern Cultural History
- Theories of Modern History
Second year students can also choose to take a module at another College of the University of London. A full list of intercollegiate History modules can be found here: http://www.history.ac.uk/syllabus/intercollegiate-courses
Second year History module descriptions can be found here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/history/modules/level5/index.aspx
YEAR 3
Students choose modules worth 60 credits from the War Studies Department, and modules worth 60 credits from the History Department.
YEAR 3 CORE
Dissertation (in either the Department of War Studies or the History Department)
YEAR 3 OPTIONS
War Studies:
The 2012-13 War Studies options are:
- Guerrillas in the Mist: Insurgency & Counter Insurgency in the Modern World
- Philosophies of War
- Manpower, Technology, Ideology: the Emergence of Modern War, 1914-1921
- The United States & the Second World War
- Security Issues in the Middle East
- Philosophies of War
- Fighting in the Air
- Warfare in the Ancient World
- War & International Relations
- Causes, Contingency & War
History:
Students can choose to take a Group III module which involves studying primary source materials or a Thematic Special Subject, in which students think comparatively and theoretically about the different periods and places they have studied in their degree so far.
Typical Group III modules:
- Alexander the Great
- Augustus: Power and Propaganda
- Australia in the Second World War: Strategy, Politics and Diplomacy
- Britain's Thatcher
- British Imperial Policy and Decolonisation, 1938-1964
- Caribbean Intellectual History since 1800
- Carolingian Europe, c.750-900
- The Making of a Colonial Regime: Eastern India, 1780-1820
- The Norman Conquest of Britain
- The Origins of Reformation in England
- Reform & Rebellion in England, 1215-1267
- Romans & Barbarians: The Transformation of the Roman West 350-700
- Women & Gender in Early Modern England
Any intercollegiate Group III please see http://www.history.ac.uk/syllabus/intercollegiate-courses
Typical Thematic Special Subject modules:
- Cosmopolitanism
- Crime and Punishment
- Economic Crises
- Intimacies
- Nations
- Ritual
Final year History module descriptions can be found here:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/history/modules/level6/index.aspx
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Australia
Tertiary Entrance Ranking
97+ ATAR, or an OP of band 2 for Queensland including high marks in History
Austria
Reifezeugnis (Matura)
Reifezeugnis with 1 including 1 in History
Belgium
Certificat D
Certificat D’Enseignement Secondaire Superieur/Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs with 9 or 19 including 8 or 18 in History
Brazil
Brazil
High School Leaving Certificate (Certificado de Ensino Médio) with 9 OR A OR Excelente PLUS at least one year of Bacharel/Licenciado at a Brazilian University with a GPA of at least 8.0 OR the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of A*AA. Including History
Bulgaria
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma za Sredno Obrazovanie with the majority of subject marks of 5.8 including 5.5 in History
Canada
Secondary School Certificate/Diploma
High School Certificate/Diploma with 90% OR Ontario University Preparatory Course with 90% at five grade 12 4U subjects. The sixth subject may be at 4U or 4U/C level. OR the Quebec CEGEP Cote R with an overall R score of 35. Including high marks in History.
Chile
Chile
Licencia de Educación Media with 6 PLUS at least one year of the Licenciatura at a Chilean university with a mark of 5 OR the Kings College London International Foundation Programme OR 3 A-levels with grades of A*AA. Including History
China
Gao Kao (University Entrance Examination)
University Entrance Examination with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Chinese university with at least 80%. Including high marks in History
Cyprus
Apolytirion
Apolytirion (School Leaving Certificate) with 19 plus at least an additional foundation/Access year including high marks in History
Czech Republic
Maturita
Maturita with 1 including 1 in History
Denmark
Studentereksamen or Hjere Forberedelseseksamen
Studentereksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen with 12 including 11 in History
Estonia
Gmnaasiumi lputunnistus (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with majority marks of 5 (including grade 5 in History) and an attestation of success in the state entry examinations (Riigieksamitunnistus)
Finland
Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen (National Matriculation)
Ylioppilastutkinto with 7 including 7 in History
France
Baccalaureat (including the option internationale baccalaureat)
The Baccalaureat with 15 overall and 14 in History
Germany
Abitur
Abitur with 1.2 overall including 1.3 in History
Ghana
School Leaving Certificate
The West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 international Cambridge-board A levels at A*AA including History
Greece
Apolytirion
Apolytirion with 19 including 19 in History
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
Three elective subjects (arts subjects preferred) at minimum Levels 5*, 5, 5 plus Level 4 in each of the four core subjects.
Hungary
Erettsegi
Erettsegi with 5 including 5 in History
India
School Leaving Certificate
School Leaving Certificate with 85% overall OR School Leaving Certificate with 75% with at least a foundation/Access year or year of undergraduate study at an Indian university. Both including high marks in History
Iran
School Leaving Certificate
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) OR the National Entrance Exam (Kunkur) with 17 OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at A*AA. All including high marks in History
Ireland
Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher level unless otherwise stated)
A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 B1 with grade A in History
Italy
Esame di Stato
Esame di Stato with 95 including 90 in History
Japan
School Leaving Certificate
Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) PLUS 3 Cambridge Board International A-levels at A*AA OR an Associate degree or Diploma from a Junior College (Jun-Gakushi) with a GPA of 3.3 or B+ or 4 OR a foundation year. Including high marks in History
Latvia
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu (Certificate of General Secondary Education)
Atestats par visparejo videjo izglitibu with 9.5 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Latvian university including high marks in History
Lithuania
Brandos Atestatas (Maturity Certificate)
Brandos Atestatas with 95 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Lithuanian university. Including high marks in History
Luxembourg
Diplome de Fin D
Diplome de Fin D’Etudes Secondaires with Tres Bien and a mark of 55 or above including Tres Bien in History
Malta
Matriculation Certificate - Advanced level
Matriculation Certificate with A*AA including A in History
Mexico
Mexico
The Bachillerato with a mark of 8 PLUS the King’s College London International Foundation Programme OR at least one year of the Licenciado study with an overall average mark of at least 8/10 OR A-levels with grades of A*AA. Including History
Moldova
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9.5 including 9 in History
Netherlands
Diploma Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
VWO with 8.5 including 8 in History
New Zealand
National Certificate of Educational Achievement Level 3 (NCEA)
The NCEA level 3 with E in the majority of standards/modules in four subjects, including Excellent in History
Nigeria
School Leaving Certificate
The Senior School Certificate (SSC/SSCE) OR the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC/WASSCE) PLUS 3 Cambridge International A levels at A*AA including A in History
Norway
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering (Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate)
Vitnemal-videregaende opplaering grade 5.5 including 5 in History
Pakistan
High School Certificate (HSSC)
High School Certificate with A1 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Pakistani university. Including high marks in History
Poland
Matura
Matura with 90% in one extended level subject plus 85% in all other extended level subjects including high marks in History
Portugal
Diploma de Ensino Secundário
Diploma de Ensino Secundário with 19 including 18 in History
Romania
School Leaving Certificate
Diploma de Bacalaureat with 9.5 including 9 in History
Russia
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education)
Attest o (Polnom) Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 including 5 in History with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Russian university
Saudi Arabia
School Leaving Certificate
College of Technology Diploma OR Higher Technical Institute Diploma OR Junior Health College Diploma OR Undergraduate Diploma with 85% OR 3 Cambridge International A levels at A*AA. All including high marks in History
Singapore
Singapore A Level
AAA in three content-based H2 subjects (including Grade A History). Knowledge and Inquiry is not considered as part of the offer
Slovakia
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuska/Maturita
Vysvedcenie Maturitnej Skuske/Maturita with 1 including 1 in History
Slovenia
Maturitetno Spricevalo (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)
Maturitetno Spricevalo with 5 including 5 in History
South Africa
South African Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement
The National Senior Certificate with Matriculation endorsement with AAAAA including A in History
Spain
Titulo de Bachiller
Titulo de Bachiller with 9 overall including 9 in History
Sweden
Fullständigt Slutbetyg (School Leaving Certificate)
Fullstandigt Slutbeytg with MVG including MVG in History
Switzerland
Federal Maturity Certificate
Federal Maturity Certificate with an overall mark of 5 including 5 in History
Turkey
Lise Diplomasi (High School Diploma)
Lise Diplomasi with an overall mark of 4 with at least a foundation/Access year or one year of undergraduate study at a Turkish university. Including high marks in History
United Kingdom
A levels
A*AA
Compulsory subjects
Grade A at A-level History
12 unit A level in vocational subjects
Considered on an individual basis
General Studies and Critical Thinking - College policy
Please note that AS/A level General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted by King's as one of your A or AS levels. However, if offered the grade achieved may be taken into account when considering whether or not to accept a candidate who has just fallen short of the conditions of their offer
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities (or similar) Diploma including study of History at Level 3 with 39 Level 3 credits from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining credits at Merit. Supplementary information and achievement e.g marks for certain credits/subjects may be required depending on course content.
Cambridge Pre-U
3 Pre-U Principal Subjects with grades of D2 D3 D3 including History
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
Considered on an individual basis
Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers
AAAAA in Highers, and AA at Advanced Higher (including History).
International Baccalaureate
35 points and HL 766 including HL6 in History
European Baccalaureate
90% overall including 8.5 in History
USA
Advanced Placement Tests and/or SAT/ACT (SAT/ACT acceptable only where stipulated)
Three AP subjects with 555 including History grade 5. Or SAT with a total score of 1950 with at least 600 in each section or the ACT with a score of 29 plus 3 SAT-S including History with a score of 600 in each
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Aptitude testing
No test required
If you are interested in coming to King’s, you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and apply online via the UCAS website (click on 'apply'). If you are applying through a school or college, you will need to obtain a 'buzzword' from the centre you are applying through. Alternatively, you can apply as an individual, independent of a school or college. Please see the UCAS website for instructions. The UCAS institution code name for King’s is KCL, and the institution code is K60.
There are a few programmes which require direct application to King's, this will be stated above
The department may interview shortlisted candidates for the BA programme and is looking for genuinely interested individuals. A good A-level performance is expected but no specific A-level subjects are normally required except for joint honours programmes. The department welcomes applicants with relevant life experience.
Applicants with relevant life experience may need to take an Access course to prepare them for their degree. Those applicants not already taking an Access course are strongly advised to consult the Admissions Tutor about their application.
Applicants planning a gap year should either apply for a deferred place in the preceding year or ensure that they are available for interview during February and March (the normal interview period for war studies) during their gap year.